Deceiving Non-Jews

By Rabbi Daniel Travis

And the sons of Yaakov answered Shechem and [his father] Chamor with
mirma. After all, they were speaking to those who had defiled their sister
Dinah. (Bereshith 34:13)

Through their cunning, Yaakov’s sons Shimon and Levi killed the entire
male population of the city of Shechem. According to halachah all those
who were killed deserved the death penalty, since they were bound by the
seven laws of Noach to organize a system for administering justice,
through which Shechem should have been punished for molesting Dina.
Nonetheless, Yaakov strongly opposed Shimon and Levi’s actions, for they
had tricked the people of the city after the people had trusted them.1

Deceiving another person is prohibited whether that person is a Jew or a
non-Jew.2 If, for example, a Jew owns a
kosher butcher shop, he may not sell non-kosher meat to a non-Jew if the
non-Jew believes he is buying kosher meat. If the non-Jew paid a higher
price for what he thought was kosher meat and the meat was not kosher, the
sale is not valid, for the non-Jew was cheated. Even if he did not pay any
more for the meat than he would have paid for non-kosher meat, if he
thought he was receiving something of higher quality, the owner is guilty
of deceiving him. It is forbidden for the owner of the shop to give a non-
Jew a wrong impression, which may lead the non-Jew to continue to shop
there since he mistakenly believes he is getting more for his money.

The prohibition of cheating someone applies anytime a Jew tries to take
something – even something intangible, such as gratitude – from someone
else, through trickery.3 According to
many opinions, it is forbidden to give something that seems to be kosher
meat to a non-Jew as a gift if the non-Jew will think the meat is kosher,
for that is also considered deceit.4

In every case, if a customer was given the impression that he was buying
something of higher quality than what he actually received, the sale is
invalid, and the customer is entitled to a refund. This applies whether
the customer is Jew or non-Jew, for it is prohibited to deceive anyone,
regardless of race or religion. It is incumbent upon the spiritual leaders
of each community to make sure that the residents of their communities act
with complete truth and honesty to Jews and non-Jews alike. Anyone who
violates this by buying on credit or taking loans without paying back
should receive appropriate punishment for their actions.5